Peak Between Two: Mushoku Tensei

-Luciel Greyrat-

The scorching wind lashed against my face, carrying grains of sand that felt like tiny blades against my skin. The sun loomed mercilessly overhead, baking the cracked earth beneath my feet.

No trees.

No shade.

Just an endless ocean of red desert, with a few jagged rock formations jutting from the ground like the fangs of a giant beast.

I swallowed, feeling the dryness in my throat.

This situation…

Was far worse than I imagined.

Analyzing the Situation

After calming Norn and Aisha, I took a deep breath and assessed the facts.

I was eight years old.

But my mind was still that of a 32-year-old scientist, carrying experience and knowledge far beyond my current body. Ever since I reincarnated in this world, I had deliberately avoided standing out too much.

But now…

I had no choice.

If I wanted to survive.

If I wanted to protect my sisters.

I had to use everything at my disposal.

I exhaled sharply, shifting my focus to identifying my location.

This world had five major continents:

Central Continent – The heart of human civilization, home to Asura Kingdom, my birthplace. Milis Continent – A well-structured land inhabited mainly by beastmen. Begaritt Continent – A harsh, barren land filled with treacherous terrain and dangerous creatures. Demon Continent – A wild, untamed land inhabited by various demon races. Heaven Continent – A land shrouded in mystery, with little information available.

I immediately ruled out the Central Continent and Milis Continent.

The air was dry. The desert stretched endlessly. Scattered rock formations dotted the landscape.

There were only two possibilities.

Begaritt Continent… or Demon Continent.

Neither was a good option.

I clenched my fist.

"Damn it. This is even worse than I thought."

I looked down at Norn and Aisha, still clutching my clothes with desperate little hands.

Their eyes, usually bright with childish wonder, were now clouded with fear and confusion.

Aisha sobbed softly, while Norn gazed up at me with glassy, uncertain eyes—waiting for an answer.

They didn't say a word.

But I could feel it.

They were relying on me.

I bit my lip, forcing myself to stay calm.

"One step at a time, Luciel."

I knelt before them, forcing a gentle smile so they wouldn't panic.

"Aisha, Norn, listen to me carefully."

They blinked up at me, silent but attentive.

"We're far from home right now, but I promise to protect you. That's why you have to stay close to me, okay?"

Norn gave a hesitant nod, while Aisha gripped my shirt tighter.

I gently ruffled their hair, offering comfort.

Even if I was terrified inside, I couldn't show it.

I had to be their pillar of strength.

Once they were a little calmer, I stood up and scanned my surroundings.

Surviving in the wilderness wasn't about luck.

It was about strategy.

In situations like this, there were three priorities:

Water – A human can only last three days without it. Food – We needed calories and nutrients to sustain ourselves. Shelter – Deserts are too hot in the day and too cold at night.

I stretched my hands forward and focused.

"Water first."

"Water Ball."

A sphere of crystal-clear liquid formed in my palm.

I carefully controlled my mana, making sure not to waste energy.

The water condensed in midair, growing larger until it was enough to fill a small pit in the sand.

I touched the water with my fingertips and activated ice magic, cooling it down.

I took a small sip.

Cold. Clean. No strange taste or smell.

"Good. H₂O, pure and safe."

I let Norn and Aisha drink until they were fully hydrated.

One problem solved.

Now—hunting.

This world wasn't Earth.

Many creatures looked harmless but were actually deadly or inedible.

I had to be extremely careful about what we ate.

After walking for a few minutes, I spotted tracks in the sand.

Three-toed claw prints. Reptilian.

I knelt down, analyzing them.

"Not a large creature… that means it's probably safe to hunt."

I recalled my biology knowledge from my past life.

Herbivores were safer to eat than carnivores. Desert creatures stored water in their bodies. Warm-blooded animals were preferred, but in an emergency, even reptiles were edible—if properly cooked.

Following the tracks carefully, I found my target—

A small lizard nestled between rock crevices, scavenging for food.

I raised my hand.

"Stone Bullet."

I didn't need excessive force—just enough to knock it unconscious without damaging the meat.

CRACK!

A small rock shot forward, striking the lizard's skull.

It twitched before collapsing onto the sand.

I approached, ensuring it was dead, then picked it up for examination.

Hard scales. No visible poison glands. No foul smell.

It passed the first test.

Now for the real test.

I applied the survival food safety method:

Check if other creatures eat it. Touch its blood to my skin. (No reaction = no poison.) Taste a tiny piece without swallowing. (If tongue goes numb, it's toxic.) Fully cook before eating.

The blood didn't burn my skin.

That was a good sign.

"Looks like we won't starve tonight."

A Temporary Refuge

After returning to Norn and Aisha, I led them to a small cave nestled between rock formations.

It wasn't ideal, but it would keep us safe from sandstorms and predators.

I ignited a small fire using fire magic, ensuring it didn't produce too much smoke.

As the lizard meat cooked, the air filled with a surprisingly savory aroma.

My stomach rumbled.

I handed small portions to Norn and Aisha, watching as they hesitated before taking a bite.

At first, they looked uncertain—

But after the first chew, Aisha's eyes lit up.

"Aah… yummy!" she mumbled, taking another bite.

Norn didn't say much, but from the way she ate—

She was starving.

I allowed myself a small smile.

Food—secured.

For now, we were safe.

But this was just the first step.

Tomorrow, I had to find civilization.

Because if we stayed in this wasteland for too long—

We wouldn't survive.